Learning Express Plans to Open Up to 20 New Stores

After the success of opening 14 new locations and 12 temporary “pop-up” stores for the holiday season (five of which remain open with short-term leases), Learning Express plans to open 17-20 new toy store franchises in 2010. Exact locations have yet to be decided and the company is actively seeking additional applicants.

Demographic studies, says the company, indicate that Learning Express stores would thrive in locations throughout Long Island, NY. The areas include Glen Cove, Port Washington, and Great Neck on the North Shore; Rockville Centre, Garden City, and the Five Towns, Merrick and Long Beach on the South Shore; Hempstead, Commack, and Woodbury in central Long Island; and towns such East Hampton, South Hampton, and Bridge Hampton on the eastern tip.

New Products

Marvel’s Ant-Man is still going strong in theaters, and so is Disney Consumer Products’ (DCP) and Marvel‘s Ant-Man product collection. The lineup includes costumes, construction sets, action figures, and more from licensees such as Hasbro, LEGO, Funko, Hot Wheels, Rubie’s Costume Co., and Uncle Milton. Readers will also be able to dive into Marvel’s Ant-Man [...]

Skechers USA Inc. has partnered with Jakks Pacific Inc. to launch a new line of dolls based on Skechers’ popular Twinkle Toes character. The initial launch includes four unique dolls that stand 6.5 inches in height, and are dressed in colorful, fashion-forward outfits and light-up Skechers Twinkle Toes shoes. Additionally, Skechers and Jakks have partnered [...]

LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. will release three new preschool toys—the Number Lovin’ Oven and Scout’s Build & Discover Tool Set, which offer pretend play experiences that teach math and measurement, respectively—and the Word Whammer, a phonics game that prepares children for kindergarten in an active way. The Number Lovin’ Oven integrates cooking concepts with numbers and [...]

Now available from VTech, Flipsies combine traditional role play with collectible dolls and accessories, as well as VTech’s proprietary MagicPoint interactive technology. The line offers a variety of ways to play and has eight introductory themes that encourage girls to be anything they want to be, whether it’s a doctor, a marine biologist, a teacher, [...]

Merchantwise, ITV Studios Global Entertainment’s appointed licensing agency in Australia, has announced strong toy and DVD sales, as well as a host of new licensing and retail partners, for the TV series Thunderbirds Are Go in Australia. The TV series, produced by ITV Studios and New Zealand-based Pukeko Pictures in collaboration with Weta Workshop, premiered in April and is [...]